40% Membership Rewards Bonus on Transfers to Avios

American Express is offering a temporary 40% bonus on Membership Rewards transfers to British Airways and Iberia. The Membership Rewards bonus of 40% is good through September 17, 2017. American Express does not limit the number of miles that can be transferred to British Airways and Iberia. Yet, under this promotion, every 1,000 Membership Reward point is temporary worth 1,400 Avios points. At minimum, 250 points are required per transfer and can only transfer in increments of 250 points.

Current Membership Rewards Bonus through 9/17/17.

Iberia Avios Awards

The transfer bonus is a fantastic opportunity to top of accounts or book a British Airways or Iberia award at a lower cost. Both airlines have distance based award charts. The further the flight, the more the flight costs. Iberia awards are a bit different than British Airways. With Iberia, flights are priced by total distance and can include multiple segments.

Iberia Avios awards are a great way to fly to certain destinations and there are sweet spots within their award chart. You just have to know where to look

IBERIA AVIOS REDEMPTION TABLE (per flight) - PEAK SEASON

Level (Distance in Miles)

Saver Economy Class

Full Fare Economy

Premium Economy

Business

1 (0 - 650)

5000

7500

-

10000

2 (651 - 1.151)

8250

12500

-

16500

3 (1.151 - 2.000)

11000

16500

-

22000

4 (2.001 - 3.000)

12500

18750

-

31250

5 (3.001 - 4.000)

20000

30,000 / 28,000*

35000

50000

6 (4.001 - 5.500)

25000

35000

43750

62500

7 (5.501 - 6.500)

30000

42000

52500

75000

8 (6.501 - 7.000)

35000

49000

61250

87500

9 (MAS DE 7.000)

50000

70000

87500

125000

EXCEPTIONS

-

-

-

-

MADRID-BARCELONA SHUTTLE

-

4500

-

9000

MADRID-LONDON

7500

11250

-

15000

IBERIA AVIOS REDEMPTION TABLE (per flight) - OFF-PEAK SEASON

Level (Distance in Miles)

Saver Economy Class

Full Fare Economy

Premium Economy

Business

1 (0 - 650)

4500

6750

-

9000

2 (651 - 1.151)

7500

11250

-

15000

3 (1.151 - 2.000)

10000

15000

-

20000

4 (2.001 - 3.000)

11000

16000

-

21250

5 (3.001 - 4.000)

17000

22000

25500

34000

6 (4.001 - 5.500)

21250

27750

31750

42500

7 (5.501 - 6.500)

25500

33250

38250

51000

8 (6.501 - 7.000)

29750

38750

44250

59500

9 (MAS DE 7.000)

42500

55250

63750

85000

EXCEPTIONS

-

-

-

-

MADRID-BARCELONA SHUTTLE

-

4500

-

9000

MADRID-LONDON

6500

9750

-

12750

If redeeming for partners, Iberia has different partner award charts. Award flights begin at 11,000 Avios points but can include multiple segments. For example, flying New York – Boston – New York is less than 600 miles round-trip. This would be one award for 11,000 Avios in economy.

Iberia partner award chart example.

British Airways Avios Awards

British Airways Avios awards are a fantastic way to fly direct short haul flights at a steep discount. This is especially true on OneWorld Partner American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. Other good deals on short haul awards are also possible on partners such as Qatar, Malaysian Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Awards on British Airways partner airlines always price as “Peak” awards. This does increase the cost of a partner award over a British Airways award depending on the day. The Peak award chart for British Airways is below. Non-Peak days on British Airways and Iberia offer between a 15-25% discount depending on fare class and the distance. Awards price are per segment, not roundtrip. If the flight includes a stop or a change of plane and is not “direct” it prices as two awards.

Distance (miles)

Economy

Business

First

1 - 650

4,500

9,000

18,000

651 - 1,151

7,500

15,000

30,000

1,152 - 2,000

10,000

20,000

40,000

2,001 - 3,000

12,500

37,500

50,000

3,001 - 4,000

20,000

60,000

80,000

4,001 - 5,500

25,000

75,000

100,000

5,501 - 6,500

30,000

90,000

120,000

6,501 - 7,000

35,000

105,000

140,000

7,001 - 100,000

50,000

150,000

200,000

Ideas for a Great Deal

The promotion allows for some great deals on award travel! Think about expensive flights to the Caribbean from Miami or Mexico from Dallas. BA does not allow zone 1 awards on North American partners any more, but instead prices even the shortest flights in North America as Zone 2 awards. Although zone 1 are not available in North America, zone 2 awards opens tons of opportunities for cheap award flights. Below are several example of good deals using British Airways Avios.

You can fly for only 7,500 points one way in economy to:

New York to Bermuda, Montreal, or Chicago.

Miami to Most of the Caribbean, Central America (excluding Panama) and Mexico.

Los Angeles to Seattle, Cabo, Vancouver or Denver.

San Diego to Seattle, Cabo or Puerto Vallarta.

Below is a map that shows some of British Airways partner’s hubs. Any direct flight within each ring would be only 7,500 Avios! Or with this case ~5,400 Membership Reward points.

Fly for 7,500 Avios on Alaska or American Airlines from these major hubs. Map created by GCmap.com

Here are ideas for 10,000 Avios points, or 7,250 Membership reward points with this promotion.

Seattle to Anchorage, Texas, or Chicago.

Mexico City to Chicago, San Fran, Los Angeles, or Philadelphia

New York to Select Caribbean Destinations such as Caicos, Antigua, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Haiti.

Dallas to Central America.

Some ideas from 12,500 Avios points, or 9,000 Membership Reward points with this promotion.

New York to West Coast (Seattle, Portland, San Fran, San Diego, Los Angeles).

Dallas to Northern South America (Quito, Bogota, Caracas).

Hawaii to the West Coast.

Transfer to Save Big

The limited time American Express promotion is huge if used to the full potential. Both British Airways and Iberia do charge fuel surcharges on transatlantic fares. Thankfully, on partner flights within North and South America, British Airways and Iberia do not collect these fees. By using Avios miles for flights within the Americas, the savings with the 40% bonus is substantial!

Finally, if you have Membership Reward points and looking to travel in the next year, consider booking with American Express points transferred to British Airways or Iberia. The cost on many of the awards listed above are thousands of miles less with Avios than when booked with North American carriers such as American, Delta, Alaska Airlines or United.

And Remember, If you need multiple segments to connect to your destination consider Iberia over British Airways. However, Iberia & British Airways have different partners. For example, Alaska are not partners therefore it may not always work depending on where you are going. If you need help, you can always use my award booking service.

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About Rocky Horan

Rocky started blogging on his own website When Doublewides Fly to share information about flying around the world on a dime. By maximizing miles and points, cheap deals, sales, backpacking, and couchsurfing Rocky has traveled to 75 countries and still counting.

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